Best River Town

Asheville Makes Outdoor Magazine's List of Best River Town.

Experience fall color by boat.

Outside Magazine recently held an online poll asking for public input on the best river towns in America. Thanks to our loyal fans, Asheville made the ninth spot on the list. Here's an excerpt from the online article:

Two things stood out among Asheville commenters: water and beer.

“Time to marry Beer City USA with the Best River Town Ever,” says local Julie Mayfield.

Stand-up Paddle Boarding along the French Broad River.

“Join a flotilla from the Wedge Brewing Company to the Bywater bar: Is that a perfect day or what?” says political science teacher Tish Szurek.

“There’s a national park—the Blue Ridge Parkway—and two world-famous trails, Mountains-to-Sea and the Appalachian, that run through the city or nearby,” notes Chris Cavanaugh, president of Magellan Strategy Group.

Bellyaks: Photo by Effort.tv

“During or after a paddle, stop off at the Asheville Outdoor Center for some of the best barbecue ever, smoked with Scottish peat,” suggests reader Tom Boeger.

And the recreational opportunities are only getting better: in March, the city will debut its new marathon, which runs through the meadows and gardens of the 8,000-acre historic Biltmore Estate.

Read the full story here.